Law enforcers try to stop a group of Jubo Mohila League activists from chasing the opposition BNP MPs at South Gate of Jatiya Sangsad in the capital today. BNP deputies who were holding a procession in support of 60-hour hartal on the road left the place quickly, eyewitnesses told The Daily Star. Photo: Focus Bangla
Led by lawmakers Nazma Akhtar and Apu Ukil, Jubo Mohila League activists today chased BNP deputies who were holding a procession in front of the parliament complex.
Police however managed to bar the ruling party activists some of whom were carrying sticks from catching the opposition lawmakers who left the place quickly, eyewitnesses told The Daily Star.
As the parliament is in session, Dhaka Metropolitan Police has already imposed a ban on carrying any kind of weapons including sticks within the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
But law enforcers at the South Gate of the Jatiya Sangsad did not bar the Jubo Mohila League activists who entered the Sangsad premises, chased BNP MPs and tried to attack them with sticks, witnesses said.
After the incident, Nazma told reporters that opposition MPs do not join parliament but they hold rallies and processions at the parliament building premises. “Yesterday [Monday] they threatened to assassin (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina. How can they deliver such arrogant speech in front of law enforcers,” said Nazma.
Asked about the move to assault BNP MPs, she said, “Our activists moved to chase opposition MPs as they were a bit excited. But we have stopped them. But if they [BNP MPs] hold rallies and processions here, then Jubo Mohila League will give them befitting reply.”
Abdul Momin, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Police Station, told The Daily Star that the incident was not a big issue. Asked how people carrying sticks could enter inside the parliament areas, he said, two to three Jubo Mohila League managed to enter the Sangsad area in spite of their barricades.
“But we managed to catch them within a short time and no BNP MP was assaulted,” he added.
Journalists present on the spot to cover the opposition MPs programme said led by Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, some 12 BNP MPs were carrying out a procession in support of 60-hour hartal on the road adjacent to parliament’s South Plaza around 10:30am.
Around 11:00am, a group of 40 Jubo Mohila League activists led by their President Prof Nazma and Prof Apu gathered on the Manik Mia Avenue. As BNP MPs were holding a procession near South Plaza, Jubo Mohila League activists began running after them.
Source: The Daily Star
